Fairfax County limits the number of nights a primary residence can be rented short-term each year. Annual night caps protect residential neighborhood character and prevent de facto hotel use under Zoning Ordinance Section 6-409.
Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance Section 6-409 caps short-term lodging stays at a defined number of nights per calendar year, typically 60 nights when the host is not present and unlimited when the host is present, subject to permit conditions. The operator must keep records of every booking, including check-in and check-out dates, and submit them on request. Exceeding the cap is grounds for permit revocation and zoning enforcement action.
Exceeding the annual night cap is a zoning violation subject to civil penalties up to 1,000 dollars per violation under Virginia Code Section 15.2-2286 and revocation of the short-term lodging permit by Fairfax County.
See how Vienna's night caps rules stack up against other locations.
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